"This image is part of an ongoing body of work exploring the imagined world inhabited by my STABBY WOMEN characters and their belief system. I was thinking about what kind of pictures the Stabby Women might have on their wall. Perhaps of their ancestors or of past expeditions or something. Somehow, this image seemed to fit the brief. These prints are also the 1st piece of work I've made with an American print house. " - Kid Acne

This RUN comes signed and numbered, along with a wax Kid Acne seal on the left corner of each print and a Certificate of Authenticity from Kid Acne and 1xRUN.

Discuss This Run

Kid Acne Debuts His First Prints Across The Pond

“Kid Acne began painting graffiti at the age of twelve inspired by its infinite scale, colour and immediacy. Applying the same DIY ethos to the rest of his output, he spent his teenage years creating underground fanzines and releasing limited run 7′′s on his own Invisible Spies imprint. Nowadays, his work can be seen throughout the globe – in wheatpastes and rap-sprays from New York to Azerbaijan. His signature style of illustrations have furnished products for the world’s leading brands, while the man himself continues to paint epic slogans in sub-zero temperatures… And he still has acne. ” – via KidAcne.com

Kid Acne In Rome

Here for his debut RUN we are excited to showcase Twins available in 4 variant prints from UK artist Kid Acne. Read on as we Kid Acne gives us the RUN Thru on his debut RUN, talks past and present influences and his upcoming show at the C.A.V.E Gallery in Los Angeles.

1xRUN Thru Interview

Twins by Kid Acne

1xRun: Is the original still for sale?

Kid Acne: No.

1xRun: When was the piece drawn/created?

Kid Acne: Early 2012.

1xRun: Anything immediate you would like us to highlight?

Kid Acne: This image is part of an ongoing body of work exploring the imagined world inhabited by my STABBY WOMEN characters and their belief system. Also, I have my next solo show coming up at C.A.V.E Gallery in Los Angeles from June 30th – July 23rd.

C.A.V.E Gallery

Read On To See More Work In Progress Shots

1xRun: Tell us how the idea and execution came about?

Kid Acne: I was thinking about what kind of pictures the Stabby Women might have on their wall. Perhaps of their ancestors or of past expeditions or something. Somehow, this image seemed to fit the brief.

1xRun: How long did the piece take?

Kid Acne: Not long.

1xRun: What is unique about this piece?

Kid Acne: It’s the 1st piece of work I’ve made with an American print house + a limited run of them are hand-finished.

1xRun: Why should people buy this piece/print?

Kid Acne: Buy it if you like it.

1xRun: Describe these prints in one gut reaction word.

Kid Acne: raw.

Run #00199 // Twins by Kid Acne

1xRun: When did you first start making art?

Kid Acne: I’ve made art for as long as I can remember. My brother and I used to draw comic strips when we were kids. We’d cast ourselves as superheroes fighting crime and whatnot. I started painting graffiti and making fanzines when I was 12 and learned to screenprint when I was 15. It’s been steady rolling ever since.

1xRun: What was your first piece?

Kid Acne: My first graffiti piece was in 1991. It’s said ‘graffiti’ and had a marker pen outline. It was pretty awful. The first piece I exhibited was in a group show 1996 in a show called Graffiti Bastards. I screenprinted my artwork on tissue paper, layered and collaged with spraypaint on canvas. I still like that one in fact.

1xRun: What artists inspired you early on?

Kid Acne: When i first got into graffiti I was most inspired by SOLO ONE, a local writer who was up everywhere. He took me to do my first tracksides and taught me a lot about painting on a larger scale. He also took me to the graf jams in Selly Oak, Birmingham where I met national and international writers such as Jon One, A One, Sharp, Part 2, Chu, She One, RCF, Stormie, Dreph. The list goes on. That really opened my eyes and by the mid 1990’s I met Mode 2, Futura, Delta and realized how important it was to have your own style. From 1995 onwards I’d say that’s what I’ve strived for most – to have my own style.

Solo One

1xRun: What artists inspire you now?

Kid Acne: I would say I’m still inspired by the same people I was back when I first started. My brother has been a big influence on me as well as my close friends. I also admire the work of Quentin Blake, Ramm:Ell:Zee, Boris Vallejo and Frank Frazetta. I like people who have their own take on things and don’t follow trends.

Quentin Blake

1xRun: Do you listen to music while you work? If so what? If not then what is your environment like when you work?

Kid Acne: I can’t work without music. I’ll play anything so long as it gets me in the right mind set. Compilations and mixtapes work best for me. I highly recommend anything by CHERRYSTONES. He’s always got a very good selection.

Photos by Theo Simpson

Photos by Theo Simpson

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any living artist who would it be and why?

Kid Acne: I’m happy to paint with anyone who has their own style and a positive outlook.

1xRun: If you could collaborate with any deceased artists who would it be and why?

Kid Acne: Same as above.

Photos by Theo Simpson

Photos by Theo Simpson

1xRun: What was the first piece of art that you bought? Do you still have it?

Kid Acne: It was a canvas by EINE. Yes – I still have it.

1xRun: What was the last piece of art that you bought?

Kid Acne: A piece by HORPHE.

Horphe

1xRun: What else do you have in the works?

Kid Acne: I’m working on a short animated series due for broadcast later this year. I’m also making some music again after a 6 year hiatus. Other than that – more exhibitions, fanzines, prints etc…

About the Artist

Location:Sheffield, United Kingdom

Kid Acne is something of a modern day renaissance man. Artist, illustrator, print-maker and sometimes, MC. His formative years were spent painting graffiti, making fanzines and releasing DIY punk/hip-hop records from his bedroom in an East Midlands backwater. In the late 90’s his work was first published in the now seminal Scrawl tome, which documented the conversion of counter culture illustration, skateboard graphics and left-field graffiti as a kind of precursor to what is now widely recognised as a 'Street Art' aesthetic.

While studying Fine Art in Sheffield, his work gained the attention of WARP Records executives who commissioned him to illustrate album sleeves for Plaid back in 1999. At the turn of the millennium, his work began to appear as the backdrop for major club nights and in style magazines throughout the UK. His illustrations have now adorned products for leading brands, such as Levis, Prada and Kenzo whilst his inimitable art can be seen throughout the globe, in wheat-pastes, murals and gallery shows from Beijing to Azerbaijan.

He is currently working on a series of short animations for Channel 4, for which he also provides the voice of the lead character, Zebra Face along with a cast of British talent, such as Roots Manuva and Jarvis Cocker.